XRP News Today: XRP at Critical Juncture: Whale Selling vs. ETF Hopes Drive Price Volatility

XRP faces mounting pressure as large-scale whale selling and bearish technical indicators challenge optimism around a potential spot ETF approval. Whale tracking platforms report daily outflows exceeding $50 million from wallets holding over 1,000 XRP tokens, a trend persisting since early 2024. CryptoQuant data underscores sustained net outflows, amplifying market uncertainty. Analysts warn that continued selling could accelerate the downtrend, particularly if bulls fail to mount a significant counteroffensive.

Technical analysis adds to the bearish narrative. Veteran trader Peter Brandt identified a descending triangle pattern on XRP's daily chart, with a critical support level at $2.68743. A close below this threshold could trigger a drop to $2.22163, representing a 20% decline from current levels. Brandt's analysis aligns with on-chain metrics: over 320 million XRP moved to exchanges recently, pushing exchange reserves to nine-month highs. Santiment data also highlights a six-month peak in crowd fear/uncertainty metrics, historically signaling potential contrarian buy opportunities.

The ETF timeline remains a key variable. While some market observers, including "Steph is Crypto," speculate the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could approve an XRP ETF by October 18, regulatory hurdles persist. Trackinsight and CF Benchmarks note procedural challenges, though Polymarket odds show over 99% probability of 2025 approval. Analysts debate whether ETF approval would catalyze a rally or trigger a "sell-the-news" pullback, particularly if whales exploit the event to offload holdings.

Bullish counterpoints exist. CasiTrades and Ali Martinez highlight consolidation near $3, suggesting a potential breakout to $3.15–$3.60 could invalidate bearish patterns. Professor Astrones and others project a $5 target, contingent on sustained buying pressure. However, these scenarios hinge on XRP overcoming key resistance levels and maintaining institutional interest amid a crowded ETF landscape.

XRP's market dynamics reflect broader altcoin volatility. With a market cap of $177 billion, the token trails BNB by a narrow margin, underscoring sensitivity to price swings. Futures open interest remains mixed, with $8.95 billion in contracts and divergent trends across exchanges like Binance and CME. Derivatives data suggests cautious optimism, but traders await clarity on both technical and regulatory fronts.

The coming weeks will test XRP's resilience. A breakdown below $2.68 could validate bearish projections, while a sustained rebound above $3.15 might reignite bullish momentum. Investors must balance whale activity, technical signals, and regulatory developments as the asset navigates a critical juncture.

Source: [1] XRP Whale Activity Sparks Concerns of Imminent Price Correction (https://thefinancialanalyst.net/2025/10/04/xrp-whale-activity-sparks-concerns-of-imminent-price-correction/)

[2] XRP Price on Edge as $50 Million Daily Whale Selling Threatens ... (https://beincrypto.com/xrp-whale-selling-etf-volatility/)

[3] XRP Price Today Drops Below $3 After $55M Whale Transfer (https://coinpedia.org/news/xrp-price-today-drops-below-3-after-55m-whale-transfer/)

[4] XRP News: Why Whales Sold 440M Coins in a Month Despite ETF ... (https://coingape.com/xrp-news-why-whales-sold-coins-month-despite-etf-launch-buzz/)

[5] Multiple Spot XRP ETFs Could Be Around the Corner. But Don't ... (https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/09/26/multiple-spot-xrp-etfs-could-be-around-the-corner/)

[6] Top Trader Peter Brandt Shares Bearish XRP Target if It Closes ... (https://thecryptobasic.com/2025/10/08/top-trader-peter-brandt-shares-bearish-xrp-target-if-it-closes-below-2-66/)

[7] XRP Price Prediction: 20% Drop if $2.68 Support Fails, ... (https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2025/10/08/xrp-price-prediction-20-drop-if-2-68-support-fails-says-peter-brandt/)

[8] Peter Brandt Predicts Bearish Trends for XRP - Blockchain ... (https://theccpress.com/peter-brandt-bearish-xrp-forecast/)

[9] XRP Price Slides 3.5% As Peter Brandt Warns Of 22 (https://insidebitcoins.com/news/xrp-price-prediction-ripple-token-plummets-4-as-peter-brandt-warns-of-22-selloff)

[10] XRP Price Faces Risk of Drop to $2.2 Amid Bearish Chart Pattern (https://blockonomi.com/xrp-price-faces-risk-of-drop-to-2-2-amid-bearish-chart-pattern/)